Panama to renew diplomatic ties with Venezuela

Panama said on Monday it would restore consular relations with Venezuela in the coming days, months after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro broke diplomatic and economic ties, accusing Panama's government of joining an alleged US conspiracy against him.

The Central American country's Foreign Affairs Ministry said the decision was "in response to the proposal made by the government of Venezuela to resume consular relations". The statement did not make clear when full diplomatic relations might be reinstated.

Diplomatic relations were broken on March 5 after Maduro used the anniversary of former President Hugo Chavez's death to accuse Panama's conservative government of joining the United States in an "open conspiracy" against him.

Panamanian President-Elect Juan Carlos Varela, who takes office on July 1, has stated a desire to resume ties with the South American oil giant in the first days of his presidency.